Manchester City vs Sunderland. Premier League.
Etihad StadiumAttendance54,523.
Sunday 27 December 2015 09:50, UK
Manchester City showed their title ambitions are still alive and kicking with a 4-1 victory over lacklustre Sunderland at the Etihad.
Manuel Pellegrini's men suffered a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal on Monday Night Football but bounced back to form in style, racing into a 3-0 lead inside 22 minutes with goals from Raheem Sterling, Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony.
Kevin De Bruyne added a fourth and they could even afford a missed second-half penalty by Bony, but City's victory was soured by substitute Vincent Kompany limping off just nine minutes into his first appearance since November 8, suffering a recurrence of his calf injury.
Sunderland, who netted a consolation through Fabio Borini, remain in a relegation fight, five points from safety, and they have now lost four games in a row for the first time since April 2014, while City are now just three points off league leaders Leicester with the two teams set to face each other on Tuesday.
City have kept seven clean sheets in eight games with Kompany in the team this season and only one in the 10 games without him so the sight of the skipper on the City bench- alongside rested Sergio Aguero - gave everyone associated with the club a pre-match boost.
That feel-good factor transmitted itself onto the pitch as City were quicker to every second ball and they took the lead on 13 minutes. De Bruyne was given far too much room to cross from the right and Sterling pounced from close range with a firm header.
Sunderland continued to give City far too much space and Toure doubled the lead four minutes later with a wonderful shimmy and shot from 25 yards that nestled in the bottom corner.
That same part of the net was rippling on 22 minutes as Bony got above John O'Shea to head home De Bruyne free-kick.
De Bruyne has now been directly involved in 17 goals in 13 appearances in all competitions for the Citizens on home soil (eight goals, nine assists).
Sterling had a potential fourth goal ruled out for offside just before half-time and David Silva really should have done better from the edge of the box when dragging a shot wide of the far post.
City maintained their forward momentum after the break and Silva was denied by a wonderful fingertip save by Vito Mannone on 47 minutes.
The Spaniard and De Bruyne were enjoying themselves in the space afforded to them by the Sunderland midfield, showcasing some neat interplay as City hunted a fourth goal and it came on 54 minutes.
Silva poked a ball towards De Bruyne around 30 yards from goal and he tried to find Bony with a ball in behind. O'Shea got to the ball but it broke back to De Bruyne, who rolled the ball home from eight yards out.
City were rarely tested in defence but did wilt when Sunderland turned the pressure up on 59 minutes as Borini stole in at the back post to prod home from close range.
Silva won his team a penalty on 66 minutes when Sebastian Coates fouled him just on the edge of the area but Bony ballooned the attempt over the crossbar.
City fans were looking to skies again minutes later when Kompany, who replaced Nicholas Otamendi on 60 minutes, limped off with a dejected look on his face just nine minutes later after overstretching in an attempt to tackle Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher.
Kompany went straight down the tunnel after being replaced by Martin Demichelis, shaking his head as fans looked on anxiously.
City saw out the game comfortably but must wait to find out how long they could again be without their captain.
Player Ratings
Man City: Hart (6), Sagna (7), Otamendi (6), Mangala (6), Kolarov (6), Fernandinho (7), Toure (7), De Bruyne (8), Silva (8), Sterling (7), Bony (7)
Subs used: Kompany (6), Demichelis (6), Delph (6)
Sunderland: Mannone (6), Jones (5), O'Shea (5), Coates (4), Van Aanholt (5), M'Vila (5), Gomez (5), Johnson (5), Borini (6), Graham (6), Fletcher (6).
Subs used: Cattermole (6), Lens (6), Watmore (6)
Man of the match: Kevin De Bruyne
